How To Keep Your Cat Cool In The Summer

Updated on July 5, 2015

My Beloved Sully is one cool cat!

You Love Your Cat, Keep it cool

In the hot summer months when temperatures are reaching into the high 80's in most places it's extremely important to remember that our pets need special attention when it comes to the heat. Veterinary hospitals start to see an increase in the number of heat-related injuries like heat stroke during the hottest times of summer. Heat stroke is a term used to describe an elevation of body temperature above normal, which for your cat is 100 to 102.5 degrees Fahrenheit.

Some cats can be more susceptible to heat extremes than other cats, these extremes may include short nosed breeds such as Persians and Exotic cats, young and old cats, obese cats, and asthmatic cats. Obese cats may also be more predisposed to heat stroke because the layer of body fat tends to soak up the sweltering heat. Young kittens and senior cats will have a seriously reduced ability to process the heat load as well.

Ethel Nice And Cool In Her Box

CIA Getting A View From Indoors

Getting Some Fresh Air

When It's Hot, Indoors Is Best

Lazy days

Nobody touches my water!

Simple And Effective Tips

Listed below are some tips you can take to safeguard your beloved cat from the heat, so relief from the sizzling summer heat keeps them cool and comfortable.

Keep your cat's bowl full of cold refreshing water. On really hot days, toss a couple of ice cubes into your cats water bowl to keep the water cold and fresh. With an outdoor cat be sure to change the water often, to guarantee it's coolness and freshness. And be sure your cat has a shaded area away from the sun to relax in.

Rubbing your cat down with a damp towel will help it stay cool, as will dipping the cats paws in a tub or sink of cool water.

High humidity combined with heat can put your cat at risk of heatstroke, keep your house cool with a fan or air conditioning. If it is at all feasible, bring your outdoor cat in for a bit of cooling off. Rubbing your cat down with a refreshing cool towel will help keep the heat off, even for brief moments to bring comfort.

Monitor your cat for symptoms of heatstroke, this can be a serious medical emergency, if you suspect your cat has heatstroke or displays any of the signs below that lead you to believe your cat is suffering heat exhaustion, cool your cat down as quickly as possible by submerging it in cool water, and then wrapping your cat with a big towel. Then rush your cat to the veterinarian immediately. This is a very serious, potentially fatal condition for a cat.

Symptoms of heatstroke include:

It is very important you keep your cat out of a parked car. Most people know this, but it still does happen. It can be extremely dangerous and can result in death.

Exercise your cat in the early hours of the day or later in the evening when it is often much cooler. Because you may notice when temps are at their highest your cat just wants to lounge around more than usual.

Monitor the outside temperature and minimize your cats activity on really hot, humid days. If your cat doesn't have shade, create something that protects your cat from the direct rays of the sun. It can make all the difference for your cat.

We love and adore our pets and want to keep them safe, happy, and comfortable. So remember to take great caution and keep them safe when the oppressive summer heat approaches. Following the simple tips above will help keep your cat safe and away from danger.

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Comments 30 comments

crazybeanrider 2 years ago from Washington MI Author

Hello Meisjunk,

I find dipping their paws in cool water works best for me. It is quick. I just scoop mine up and gently set them in the water briefly and done! My 19 year old CIA doesn't mind that much, but 1 year old Cleo Louise is a little more spunky about it. Thank you for commenting, I hope Prince stays cool this summer.

Meisjunk 2 years ago from Pennsylvania

Thanks so much for this information! I'll be using this summer as we reach peaks! Prince Fredward might not like a damp towel or his paws being dipped in water! XD I can't wait to find out how he reacts.

FlourishAnyway 3 years ago from USA

Good pointers for our loveable four-legged feline friends. I find that my black outdoor kitties in particular need some special attention, as they attract heat. Your photos are absolutely precious. I especially like that close-up of Sully that just screams, "Whew. It's a hot, exhausting day!" Cats are so full of personality.

crazybeanrider 6 years ago from Washington MI Author

Thank you so much stars439 for such a warm and loving comment. When it gets to hot here, and it sometimes does, I take my two next door to my moms, who has air conditioning. They will plop right down and bask in it.

stars439 6 years ago from Louisiana, The Magnolia and Pelican State.

A very sweet enjoyable educational hub. We have ten cats, and they love their fresh water with ice. They are all indoors with our air conditioning, but it still gets kind of warm so fans are used with the air conditioners. God Bless You for having such a lovingly kind hub for these beautiful friends of ours.

crazybeanrider 6 years ago from Washington MI Author

Thanks BlogggerOne and Zannie for your great comments and reading. They really mean a lot to me. My cats will lay near the fan as long as it isn't to close to them. I wish I had ceiling fans that would be so great for them, and not to mention me! :) Thank you guys!

Zannie10 6 years ago

This is great to post because it is a very important issue! These are good tips and I have done all of them with my cat. Thanks again!

BlogggerOne 6 years ago

My smart cat lays right in front of the air conditioning vent or right under my ceiling fan and let's the air blow through her long beautiful fur. Thanks for looking out for our furry friends.

crazybeanrider 6 years ago from Washington MI Author

Thanks brettb, would you like to clarify why?

brettb 6 years ago from London

If you live in a hot country buy a white cat.

crazybeanrider 6 years ago from Washington MI Author

My mom lives in the next apt over, she has a/c, so I take Ethel and Cia over for a cooling off. TvTopTen Sully was kind of fattish, but I think the photo makes her look bigger. Yes she was my cutey.(my little love)

Lender my like to lay out in the sun on the balcony, unless it gets to sunny. I lay cardboard out there, they for some reason like laying on that.

Thank you both for the comments, they are much appreciated. :)

lender3212000 6 years ago from Beverly Hills, CA

Those are some great tips! My cats seem to THINK they are cool all the time but they do get a little overheated sitting in the sun at times. I'll be sure to keep the cold water flowing this summer. Thanks for the great hub!

TVTopTen 6 years ago

There is some very useful info here. I live in Costa Rica and it gets hotter then hell. My cat basically just sleeps all day in the shade :)

OMG Sully is HUGE! but so cute. I like big cats

crazybeanrider 6 years ago from Washington MI Author

Thanks celt and seakay for reading and commenting. Regular grooming is very helpful, especially if you do it year round. I think cats tend to keep to themselves far more than dogs do, that's for sure. I appreciate the comments.

Seakay 6 years ago from Florida

Plato, Felix and Oliver thank you for this Hub! Great reminders to people that cats are not really self-sufficient. They just don't meow as loud as a dog barks! Thank you for the great hub info!

thecelt 6 years ago

I find that regular grooming of my cat allows the thick coat of hair to shed faster and my cat seems to stay cooler in the summer.

crazybeanrider 6 years ago from Washington MI Author

epigramman, thanks for reading, and it is so wonderful to hear you talk about your beloved cats with such love. My cats are my legacy as well. I had my beloved Sully, Ethel is still with me, she is now 16 and I have Sully's brother who I kind of inherited from my mom the last few years. I love them so much.

epigramman 6 years ago

Little Miss Tiffy and Mister Gabriel spend their entire summer outdoors here at Lake Erie so they are two cool cats ... and it saves on the air conditioning!

I love my cats by the way - they are my two best friends - and this will be my legacy - I live alone - well no I don't - I got them and they got me !!!

crazybeanrider 6 years ago from Washington MI Author

Thanks fashion fame for the great comments. I would love to check out your hubs, thanks for reading.

FashionFame 6 years ago from California

I am little scared of animals but I just adore cats. What a fantastic hub!! Would like to join your fan club for more of your writings and would like to invite you too.

crazybeanrider 6 years ago from Washington MI Author

Thank you Peggy, As rmr said people just don't realize how the weather affects our pets. We need to make sure they are safe just as we would our kids.

Hey michifus, thank you so much. Yes Sully was my baby. She was a Tubby Butt. She died, but I use her photo's because I refuse to let her go. Your avatar is quite beautiful.

Thank you guys for all the great comments :) You make me happy!

michifus 6 years ago

great hub, informative and very useful. What a beautiful cat too - looks a little lardy like my one!

Peggy W 6 years ago from Houston, Texas

The face on your Sully looks a lot like our Peaches who was abandoned when people moved. She and Dusty are indoor cats and have a great life with the DOG Skippy. You are offering great advice in this hub. Thanks for spreading the word.

crazybeanrider 6 years ago from Washington MI Author

Thanks habee

habee 6 years ago from Georgia

Love your kitties! great tips!

crazybeanrider 6 years ago from Washington MI Author

Hey rmr and DzyMsLizzy, Thanks for reading and the great comments. It has taken me awhile to start writing about cats. I took it hard when Sully died. rmr, my dad is one who thinks cats can take care of themselves no matter the weather. I convinced him to at least drop ice cubes in the bowl for his outdoor cat.

Yes DzyMsLizzy I was seriously attached to Sully, a day doesn't go by I don't think of her. She is my avatar, I just can't change it yet. She was healthy, then one day she didn't feel good, took her to the vet and she was bleeding out, took her to 2 more vets, and they couldn't save her. I had to put her to sleep. Very heartbreaking for me. I take a lot heat for being so emotional, but that's me so...thank you guys for sharing :)

DzyMsLizzy 6 years ago from Oakley, CA

I also add an ice cube or two in their water bowl if it gets really hot--but 2 of them, 1 more so than the other--love to PLAY with ice cubes & bat them around the floor, then leave them either for us to step on and slip, or to melt & leave a puddle to soggy our socks! Sometimes, they will even try to fish the cubes out of their water so they can play with them! LOL Silly kitties!

I know what you mean about a 'soul cat.' I am sorry for your loss of your Sully. We had a beautiful pure black kitty named Soot, and she passed of a mystery illness at only 4½ years of age. The vet was mystified after every test came back negative, & even necropsy turned up no reason for her to have died. She was my husband's favorite, and the sweetest, most loving cat we've ever had.

I use her photo as my avatar most other places on the web, particularly on Twitter and in my online shops, because, like you, I refuse to forget her.

rmr 6 years ago from Livonia, MI

Great advice! Too many people think that their pets are unaffected by the weather.They couldn't be more wrong!

Our cat is strictly an indoor cat, but he still likes a little ice in his water dish.

crazybeanrider 6 years ago from Washington MI Author

Hi DzyMsLizzy- Thank you :) Mine are indoors as well, They go out on the balcony( they don't touch the ground), the two younger ones love being on the rail. Well I don't have Sully anymore, she was laid to rest a few years ago, my little soul cat. I like to post her pictures as I refuse to forget her. But the other two like the fresh air. I don't have a/c, but use a fan and the lots of ice in their bowls, and I wet them down with a cool towel.

DzyMsLizzy 6 years ago from Oakley, CA

Good pointers, all. We keep our kitties as indoor-only, so they are in the same air-conditioned comfort zone as ourselves. Since my husband has a heart condition, and his medications make it hard for his body to regulate his temperature, we always keep the thermostat at 72 degrees in summer, and not under 68 in winter. Our cats are safely spoiled. ;-)